Sukma attack: Rajnath briefs PM on Naxal attack; says 'no one will be spared'

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday night briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the attack on a CRPF team in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district in which 25 jawans were killed.

Singh will also travel to Raipur on Tuesday to take stock of the situation.

He apprised Modi of the circumstances leading to the attack and steps taken for treatment of those injured in it.

The home minister, who is in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, was earlier briefed by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on the attack.

Sukma Naxal attack: As it Happened

Sukma attack an act of cowardice

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said the attack on CRPF personnel in Sukma shows Naxals’ cowardice and assured that the injured jawans will be provided with all possible help.

“I pay my condolences to families of martyred personnel and those who have been injured in the attack. All possible help will be provided to injured jawans,” Singh said.

The attack on jawans in Sukma shows Naxals’ cowardice, he said.

Singh, who was in the national capital to attend some programmes, cut short his visit and went back to Raipur. Back in state capital, Singh called an emergency meet to discuss the situation. 

“I am extremely distressed to know about the Naxal attack in Sukma. I am cancelling my Delhi tour and returning to Chhattisgarh to attend a meeting (on the attack),” he wrote on Twitter.

Sukma Naxal attack: List of CRPF men who lost their lives

Attack a challenge to government

The government has taken as a “challenge” the killing of CRPF personnel by Naxals in Sukma in Chhattisgarh, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said and vowed that “no one will be spared”.

 “It is a very sad and unfortunate incident... We have taken the attack as a challenge,” Singh told reporters in New Delhi.

Later, in Mandla in Madhya Pradesh, he said the incident was “very painful” and “No one will be spared.”

He said he would be talking to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh.“I have already asked Union Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Ahir to leave for Sukma,” Rajnath Singh said.

Earlier, Singh had asked Ahir to travel to Chhattisgarh to take stock of the situation.

“Extremely pained to know about the killing of CRPF personnel in Sukma. My tributes to the martyrs and condolences to their families,” Singh tweeted.

At least 26 CRPF personnel were killed and six wounded in Sukma district today, the deadliest attack by Naxalites targeting security forces this year.

Political reactions: PM Modi says sacrifice of slain CRPF jawans will not go in vain